The New Jersey Devils look for their first Stanley Cup title in nearly a decade as they host the opening game of the best-of-seven tonight, Wednesday May 30th, against the Los Angeles Kings who are looking for their first championship in franchise history. New Jersey won both regular-season meetings over the Kings. NHL oddsmakers have installed the Kings as slight -115 moneyline road favorites over the Devils (-105) with the over/under set at 4.5 goals. Be sure to check the Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 2012 NHL Playoff Odds before they drop the puck.

LA (12-2, 8-0 V) defeated the Western Conference’s top three seeds – Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix. Along the way, they posted an 8-0 road record and have outscored their opposition by a 41-22 margin.

The Kings have received goals from 15 different players. The top line of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams have combined to record 15 goals and 42 points in the playoffs. Another formidable line for the Kings has been the unit of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Dustin Penner. Both Richards and Carter have four goals each in this postseason, while Penner has three goals and 10 points.

The Kings counter with 26-year-old Jonathan Quick between the pipes. Quick leads all playoff goalies in goals-against average (1.54) and save percentage (.946).

New Jersey (12-6, 6-2 H) went seven games with the Florida Panthers in the opening round, then eliminated the fifth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in five games before taking out the top-seeded New York Rangers in six games to win the Eastern Conference title.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac lead the Devils with seven goals apiece in the playoffs. Kovalchuk is leading the league with 18 points, Parise is next on the team with 14 and Zajac is third with 12 points.

In goal, the Devils will look to 40-year-old Martin Brodeur, the future Hall of Famer, sports a 2.04 GAA and .923 SV%.

Since 1994, the team experiencing the longer break has won only five of the 17 finals. In theory, it doesn’t make sense. More days off should allow injured players more time away from the ice, more time with the club’s doctors and trainers. Alternatively, the team with a shorter break should be fatigued, worn down from taking longer to eliminate its opponent in the conference final. Perhaps the tired team is just better and their conference was more competitive. Maybe it’s just a crazy statistical oddity, you can find numbers to support just about argument. Just the same, with a success rate of only 29 per cent, there likely are some compelling mental and physical reasons why the more-rested team can’t close the deal.

The Bottom Line: The Devils have the upperhand because they haven’t had as must rest time and their at home with Brodeur. Want to dominate the books this season with some of the best NHL Picks Experts in the business? Then sign up right now and get NHL Picks Free!

Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Kings are 8-0 in their last 8 road games.
Kings are 6-0 in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Kings are 5-0 in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Kings are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Kings are 7-1 in their last 8 games following a win.
Kings are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
Devils are 6-1 in their last 7 home games.
Devils are 5-1 in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Devils are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Devils are 5-1 in their last 6 playoff games as an underdog.
Devils are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Kings are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Atlantic.
Kings are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.